Thanksgiving Day Parade and Mehron Makeup

The Annual Macy's Day Parade in New York City is an entertainment event that began in 1924, one of the few events that is older than the founding of Mehron Makeup. Mehron has functioned continuously since 1927, whereas the Macy's Day Thanksgiving Day Parade was suspended during 1942-1944 because of the needs of World War II. It was long after the founding of Mehron that performers in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade would begin to wear the handcrafted makeup of Mehron and continue to do so over eighty years later. Just as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an integral part of the fabric of New York City culture, Mehron Makeup was inextricably tied to the New York City way of life.

Mehron Melik, the founder of Mehron Makeup developed his handcrafted makeup to meet the demands of the growing live performance venues that were a part of the New York City experience. New York City was home to an array of Entertainment options in the 1920's, from Vaudeville to Ballet, Burlesque to Opera, and the rise of Broadway. All of these live Performance venues required Theatrical Makeup. The Macy's Day Thanksgiving Day Parade featured not only the stars of New York City Theater, but also an army of clowns that walked the parade route entertaining the crowds. Mehron's Clown White Makeup was a favorite with the Macy's Day Parade Clowns, not only for the extreme bright white but because it did not run, fade or crack during the many grueling hours of marching along the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Clowns quickly recognized the durability of Mehron Clown Makeup making it a part of every Macy's Day Thanksgiving Day Parade since the late 1920's.

The Broadway Stars and Professional Performers from all walks of live entertainment in New York City were also participants in the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade, and when costumed in character also wore the same Mehron Theatrical Makeup that they used in their live stage performances. Chorus line dancers and headline stars alike joined the clowns in wearing Mehron Makeup during their march down the through the avenues of New York City. Although still considered Theatrical Makeup, Broadway Stars that rode the parade floats not in character still wore some of their Mehron Stage Makeup, such as Mehron Foundation, Mascara, and Lipstick.

Mehron Makeup was again seen by millions through the live television broadcast of the annual Macy's Day Parade. Unlike the early years of the Macy's Day Parade, which only had Mehron Theatrical Makeup and Mehron Clown Makeup, the 2009 marchers and float riders also had the option of Mehron Face Painting Makeup, Body Painting Makeup and the newest collection of Beauty Makeup to count on for the hours long parade route.

The Macy's Day Parade Committee is constantly introducing new additions to the Thanksgiving Day Parade, new balloons, new floats, bands and acts since the beginning in 1924. Like Macy's, Mehron is consistently introducing new products, colors and makeup innovations to keep pace with the ever changing needs of the makeup consumer. Just as 2009 saw the long anticipated introduction of new balloons and a new float for Santa Claus, Mehron introduced some dynamically exciting Makeup Products during the year. The Macy's Day Parade is as synonymous with New York City as Broadway and Times Square. Mehron Makeup has been the standard for Clown Makeup for over eighty years, has led the way in Theatrical Makeup color saturation and innovation, and is now on the way to being a leader in Beauty Makeup. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade showcases every Makeup Line produced by Mehron and will continue to do so as long as there are Clowns, Singers, Dancers, Chorus Line, Actors and Actresses taking part in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.